The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia had its origins before World War II as the ''Bulgarian Diocese of North and South America and Australia''. However, a result of the establishment of a Communist government in Bulgaria after the war, relations of the diocese with the Church of Bulgaria were disrupted. Under [[Metropilitan]] [[Andrey (Petkov) of New York]], the diocese attempted, in the late 1950s, to join the [[Metropolia]] but was unsuccessful.

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The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia had its origins before World War II as the ''Bulgarian Diocese of North and South America and Australia''. However, a result of the establishment of a Communist government in Bulgaria after the war, relations of the diocese with the Church of Bulgaria were disrupted. Under [[Metropolitan]] [[Andrei (Petkov) of New York]], the diocese attempted, in the late 1950s, to join the [[Metropolia]] but was unsuccessful.

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In 1964, Metr. Andrey petitioned the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Bulgaria for his return to the Bulgarian episcopacy and to continue to lead the diocese in America. With the return of Metr. Andrey and his diocese to the Church of Bulgaria, a group under [[Archimandrite]] [[Kyrill (Yonchev) of Pittsburgh|Kyrill (Yonchev)]] broke with Metr. Andrey and joined the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia ([[ROCOR]]) as the [[Bulgarian Diocese in Exile]]. The ROCOR bishops [[consecrate]]d him [[bishop]]. Later the Bulgarian Diocese in Exile became part of the [[Orthodox Church in America]].

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In 1964, Metr. Andrei petitioned the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Bulgaria for his return to the Bulgarian episcopacy and to continue to lead the diocese in America. With the return of Metr. Andrei and his diocese to the Church of Bulgaria, a group under [[Archimandrite]] [[Kyrill (Yonchev) of Pittsburgh|Kyrill (Yonchev)]] broke with Metr. Andrei and joined the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia ([[ROCOR]]) as the [[Bulgarian Diocese in Exile]]. The ROCOR bishops [[consecrate]]d him [[bishop]]. Later the Bulgarian Diocese in Exile became part of the [[Orthodox Church in America]].

In the year 2000, the Bulgarian diocese received a number of parishes formerly belonging to the [[Holy Order of MANS|Holy Order of MANS/Christ the Saviour Brotherhood]], nearly doubling the number of parishes in the diocese.

In the year 2000, the Bulgarian diocese received a number of parishes formerly belonging to the [[Holy Order of MANS|Holy Order of MANS/Christ the Saviour Brotherhood]], nearly doubling the number of parishes in the diocese.

The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia is one of fifteen dioceses of the Church of Bulgaria. The diocese is led by Metropolitan Joseph.

History

The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia had its origins before World War II as the Bulgarian Diocese of North and South America and Australia. However, a result of the establishment of a Communist government in Bulgaria after the war, relations of the diocese with the Church of Bulgaria were disrupted. Under MetropolitanAndrei (Petkov) of New York, the diocese attempted, in the late 1950s, to join the Metropolia but was unsuccessful.

The diocese is currently led by Metr. Joseph with parishes in the United States, Canada, and Australia as an overseas diocese of the Church of Bulgaria under PatriarchMaxim and the Bulgarian Synod of Bishops. The diocesan cathedral is Ss Cyril and Methody Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City.

The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia is a member of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).